Families waiting to hear from loved ones who entered the BWCA before closure
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News of the growing wildfires and evacuations left some people waiting anxiously to hear from loved ones Tuesday who entered the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness before it was closed the day before.
Pam Tilly of Oklahoma City awaited word of her 74-year-old brother, her brother’s son and daughter-in-law and their two daughters, ages 5 and 7. They entered the BWCA at Birch Lake on July 10.
Tilly said the group has been visiting the BWCA for years and are experienced wilderness campers. But as she watched news of the fires expanding late Monday, she grew worried.
“This is the one thing they look forward to every year. But it’s very nerve-racking,” Tilly said. She said she hasn’t been able to reach her brother by cell phone, which is common in the BWCA where there’s limited or no cell service.
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Her brother’s outfitting company contacted Tilly, who was listed as an emergency contact, and has been providing her with updates. The group is believed to have headed east to Knife Lake. Tilly said Forest Service staff will be sweeping that area by canoe today.
Depending on the direction of the wind, the group might not even see smoke or be aware of the fires, Tilly said. She said she’s hopeful that they’re well away from any danger.
“I think they're just having a great time and have no awareness of what's going on around them,” she said.
UPDATE: Shortly after 5:30 p.m., Tilly told MPR News she had received a text from her brother’s daughter-in-law saying they were all off the water and safe — welcome news after a long day of worrying.
